"criminal hacking attacks only hurts their cause"

But results and action are needed now, not in some far off committee based nonsense.

Those implementing net censorship (including our own ignorant leaders in the UK) need to be made aware that there is more to the game (of governing) than the aspects they control, particularly now the internet has been invented.

"Stick it to the man" and other such effusive slogans!

uncivil disobedience...

As an Australian the proposed 'net filer will directly affect me.

I have done all the "correct" things.. written to the Minister and my local MP, left messages and posts on numerous newspapers and IT websites.

My own MP (in fact a member of Cabinet and therefore directly involved in the decision making on this issue) admitted he had received many letters of complaint about the filter.

In my letter both to him and the Sen. Conroy I said in no uncertain terms that this was a cynical vote buying exercise aimed at the religious right (of with Conroy is a member).

The Minister responds with a standard letter about preventing access to "illegal" material.

But it is all rubbish. The government has no intention of backing down despite massive opposition from the IT industry, business, free speech groups and the media.

This is all about votes in marginal electorates and sucking up to a rich and very powerful religious lobby.

The opposition Liberal party (ie Tories) originally opposed the filter but since a change of leader late last year, have been very quiet on the subject which is deeply disturbing.

I am sure they are being lobbied hard on the issue by the religious right and by free speech supporters. But I am sure they are contemplating the impact of being seen to side with "pornography" if they oppose Conroy's idiocy.

The level of debate has been appalling with Conroy calling anyone who opposes his laws a supporter of child pornography. This gives you an insight into how vicious and unprincipled the government is on this issue.

I do not really approve of DoS attacks but civil disobedience against this sort of vile and undemocratic legislation maybe the only way open to oppose this nasty legislation.

Why worry

If Haystack is good enough to by-pass the filtering in Iran, why don't the Aussies just use that?*

Or Tor?

Governments will have to learn that no matter what they do, they cannot compete with an legion of frustrated geeks with entirely too much time on their hands. :o)

*I agree it's the principle of the thing that's important.